MOUTHS AND MANNERS 



use, ought, in heavy harness, to drive comfortably 

 in either the check or preferably the half-check ; 

 and ninety per cent of them will do so if proper 

 appliances are used. The use of the middle-bar 

 has many drawbacks, and tends to make a horse 

 dead in his mouth very quickly, unless carefully 

 applied, for, some day the plain loose chain gets 

 twisted, the bit drops lower to a new place, the 

 mouth is bruised, and, as hanging back procures 

 punishment, the horse, again choosing the lesser 

 evil, pulls to let the chain and bit numb his 

 mouth and — another puller is in process of 

 manufacture. Be sure the bit is neither too nar- 

 row nor (as generally) too wide ; if the latter, put 

 on leather cheek-pieces to make it fit, or get an- 

 other bit. 



If the smooth side of an elbow bit is too easy, 

 try the rough ; if the subject opens his mouth, 

 put on an "all-round" nose-band; try the bit 

 high and low, loose chain and tight, plain chain 

 and twisted, until you find the " comfortable spot,"- 

 and frequently shift it from there if he is inclined 

 to take hold ; if a " tongue loUer," or one which 

 gets his tongue over the bit, try dropping it very 

 low instead of, as usual, taking it up very high, or 

 put on a long sole-leather port which will keep 



III 



